Door lock system

ABSTRACT

A door lock system includes a shaft and a cam. The cam is supported on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and for movement along the shaft throughout a range of door lock release locations. A selector engages the cam to move the cam along the shaft upon rotation of the selector. An actuator lock has a closed condition blocking rotation of the shaft, and has an open condition permitting rotation of the shaft. The actuator lock prevents rotation of the cam at any of the door lock release locations when the actuator lock is in the closed condition.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technology includes door locks for storage lockers.

BACKGROUND

Storage lockers may be arranged together in a cabinet. Each locker inthe cabinet has a door with an individual lock that typically isoperated independently of the locks at the other doors.

SUMMARY

In a given example, a door lock system includes a shaft and a cam. Thecam is supported on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and formovement along the shaft throughout a range of door lock releaselocations. A selector engages the cam to move the cam along the shaftupon rotation of the selector. An actuator lock has a closed conditionblocking rotation of the shaft, and has an open condition permittingrotation of the shaft. The actuator lock prevents rotation of the cam atany of the door lock release locations when the actuator lock is in theclosed condition.

The door lock system in the given example further includes a pluralityof door locks, each of which has a control device at a respective one ofthe door lock release locations. The cam is configured to engage acontrol device upon rotation of the cam at the respective one of thedoor lock release locations.

The actuator lock may be configured for use with a key for manuallyshifting the actuator lock between the open and closed conditions, andfor manually rotating the shaft when the actuator lock is in the opencondition. The selector may include a lead screw configured for use witha driving tool for manually rotating the lead screw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cabinet with a vertical array of lockersand an opening mechanism for locks at the locker doors.

FIG. 2 is enlarged partial view of parts shown in FIG. 1, including theopening mechanism.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the opening mechanism of FIG. 2, withparts removed for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a separate view of several parts shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a separate view of a part shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus shown in the drawings has parts that are examples of theelements recited in the claims. The illustrated apparatus thus includesexamples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and usethe claimed invention. These examples provide enablement and best modewithout imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims. One ormore elements of one embodiment may be used in combination with, or insubstitution for, one or more elements of another embodiment as neededfor any particular implementation of the claimed invention.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, a locker cabinet 10 includes a frame12 with corner channels 14. The cabinet 10 encloses a stack of storagelockers 16, each of which has a door 18 with a lock 20 mounted in anadjacent corner channel 14. An opening mechanism 22 also is mounted in acorner channel 14. Each door lock 20 has a respective control device 24operatively connected with the opening mechanism 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opening mechanism 22 has a housing 30 with afront end 32 and a side portion 34. The control devices 24 in the givenexample are cables reaching downward from the side portion 34 of thehousing 30. A selector 40 is supported in the housing 30 for rotationabout a first axis 41, and is accessible at the front end 32 of thehousing 30. An actuator 46 is supported in the housing 30 for rotationabout a second axis 49 parallel to the first axis 41, and also isaccessible at the front end 32 of the housing 30.

FIG. 3 shows that the housing 30 includes a frame 50. The actuator 46 isshown to include an actuator lock 52 and a shaft 54. The actuator lock52 is configured to receive a key for rotation about the second axis 49between first and second positions defined by first and second notches56 and 58. Specifically, the actuator lock 52 is opened by insertion ofthe key in the first position 56. The actuator lock 52 can then berotated clockwise toward the second position 58. The shaft 54 issupported on the frame 50 for rotation about the second axis 49 with thelock 52.

As further shown in FIG. 3, this example of the selector 40 is a leadscrew 60 with a hub 62. The lead screw 60 has a slot 65 for insertion ofa screwdriver or other manual driving tool to rotate the lead screw 60about the first axis 41.

Also shown in FIG. 3 are a cam 70 and a yoke 72. As best shown in FIG.4, the yoke 72 has a pair of arms 80. The shaft 54 reaches throughapertures 81 in the arms 80 such that the shaft 54 can rotate relativeto the yoke 72, and the yoke 72 can move axially relative to the shaft54. The yoke 72 further has a base 84 with an internal screw thread 86.The internal screw thread 86 on the yoke 72 mates with an external screwthread 88 on the lead screw 60. In this arrangement, rotation of thelead screw 60 about the first axis 41 drives the yoke 72 to move axiallyalong both the lead screw 60 and the shaft 54.

The cam 70 is mounted on the shaft 54 with adjoining flats 90, one ofwhich is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for the cam 70 to rotate about thesecond axis 49 with the shaft 54. The cam 70 can also move axiallyrelative to the shaft 54, and is captured between the yoke arms 80 toslide axially along the shaft 54 with the yoke 72.

The control devices 24 (FIG. 2) in the given example are cableassemblies, one of which is shown in FIG. 5. Each cable assembly 24includes a wire 100 that reaches through a sheath 102 and projectsoutward from anchors 104 at opposite end of the sheath 102. A spring 106is compressible between the upper anchor 104 and a button 108 at theupper end of the wire 100. A tab 110 at the lower end of the wire 100has a key hole slot 113 for receiving a tripping arm on one of the doorlocks 20 (FIG. 1). Such door locks 20 with tripping arms are known inthe art.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the frame 50 has a shelf 120 with slots 121arranged in a row alongside the lead screw 60. The slots 121 definerespective door lock release locations that are spaced apart in adirection parallel to the first axis 41. Each slot 121 is configured toreceive an anchor 104 at the upper end of a corresponding one of thecable assemblies 24 (FIG. 5). Each door lock 20 has a normally lockedcondition in which the spring 106 at the upper end of the correspondingcable assembly 24 holds the respective button 108 in an uppermostposition above the shelf 120 on the frame 50.

With the cable assemblies 24 installed as shown in FIG. 2, a user caninsert a driving tool into the slot 65 to rotate the lead screw 60 andthereby to move the cam 70 axially into a selected one of the door lockrelease locations 121 (FIG. 3). This moves the cam 70 into positionabove the button 108 (FIG. 5) on the cable assembly 24 at that location.The user can then insert the key into the actuator lock 52 in the firstposition 56 to open the actuator lock 52. Rotating the key and theactuator lock 52 in the clockwise direction toward the second position58 likewise rotates the shaft 54 and the cam 70 in the clockwisedirection. The cam 70 then pivots downward against the button 108 on thecable assembly 24 to push the button 108 downward against the bias ofthe respective spring 106. This shifts the wire 100 and the tab 110downward to unlock the associated door lock 20. When the user rotatesthe key back to the first position 56, the spring 106 pulls the wire 100and tab 110 back upward to return the door lock 20 to the lockedcondition.

This written description sets forth the best mode of carrying out theinvention, and describes the invention so as to enable a person ofordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention, by presentingexamples of the elements recited in the claims. The detaileddescriptions of those elements do not impose limitations that are notrecited in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A door lock system comprising: a shaft supportedfor rotation; a cam supported on the shaft for rotation with the shaft,and for movement along the shaft throughout a range of door lock releaselocations; a selector engaged with the cam to move the cam along theshaft upon rotation of the selector; and an actuator lock having aclosed condition blocking rotation of the shaft and an open conditionpermitting rotation of the shaft, whereby the actuator lock preventsrotation of the cam at any of the door lock release locations when theactuator lock is in the closed condition.
 2. A door lock system asdefined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of door locks, eachof which has a control device at a respective one of the door lockrelease locations, wherein the cam is configured to engage a controldevice upon rotation of the cam at the respective one of the door lockrelease locations.
 3. A door lock system as defined in claim 2, whereineach control device comprises a cable assembly configured to reach fromthe respective door lock to the respective door lock release location.4. A door lock system as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator lockis configured for use with a key for manually shifting the actuator lockbetween the open and closed conditions, and for manually rotating theshaft when the actuator lock is in the open condition.
 5. A door locksystem as defined in claim 4, wherein the selector comprises a leadscrew configured for use with a driving tool for manually rotating thelead screw.
 6. A door lock system as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a frame, wherein the selector is supported on the frame forrotation about a first axis relative to the frame, and the shaft issupported on the frame for rotation about a second axis relative to theframe.
 7. A door lock system as defined in claim 6, wherein the actuatorlock is supported on the frame at an axially outer end of the shaft. 8.A door lock system as defined in claim 6, wherein the first axis isparallel to the second axis.
 9. A door lock system as defined in claim6, wherein the selector comprises a lead screw.
 10. A door lock systemcomprising: a shaft supported for rotation; a cam supported on the shaftfor rotation with the shaft, and for movement along the shaft throughouta range of door lock release locations; an actuator lock having a closedcondition blocking rotation of the shaft and an open conditionpermitting rotation of the shaft, whereby the actuator lock preventsrotation of the cam at any of the door lock release locations when theactuator lock is in the closed condition; and a plurality of door locks,each of which has a respective control device configured to engage thecam at a respective one of the predetermined door lock release locationsupon rotation of the cam with the shaft.
 11. A door lock system asdefined in claim 10, wherein each control device comprises a cableassembly configured to reach from the respective door lock to therespective door lock release location.
 12. A door lock system as definedin claim 10, further comprising a frame, wherein the shaft is supportedon the frame for rotation about an axis relative to the frame, and theactuator lock is supported on the frame at an axially outer end of theshaft.
 13. A door lock system as defined in claim 10, wherein theactuator lock is configured for use with a key for manually shifting theactuator lock between the open and closed conditions, and for manuallyrotating the shaft when the actuator lock is in the open condition. 14.A door lock system comprising: a frame; a shaft supported on the framefor rotation relative to the frame; a cam supported on the shaft forrotation with the shaft relative to the frame, and for movement alongthe shaft throughout a range of door lock release locations; a selectorsupported on the frame for rotation relative to the frame, wherein theselector engages the cam to move the cam along the shaft upon rotationof the selector; and an actuator lock supported on the frame at anaxially outer end of the shaft; wherein the actuator lock has an opencondition permitting rotation of the shaft and a closed conditionpreventing rotation of the shaft; and the actuator lock is configuredfor use with a key for manually shifting the actuator lock between theopen and closed conditions, and for manually rotating the shaft when theactuator lock is in the open condition.
 15. A door lock system asdefined in claim 14, wherein the selector is configured for use with adriving tool for manually rotating the lead screw.
 16. A door locksystem as defined in claim 14, wherein the shaft is supported on theframe for rotation about a first axis relative to the frame, and theselector is supported on the frame for rotation about a second axisrelative to the frame.
 17. A door lock system as defined in claim 16,wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.
 18. A door locksystem as defined in claim 14, wherein the selector comprises a leadscrew.
 19. A door lock system as defined in claim 14, further comprisinga plurality of door locks, each of which has a respective control deviceconfigured for engagement with the cam at a respective one of thepredetermined lock release locations upon rotation of the cam with theshaft.
 20. A door lock system as defined in claim 19, wherein eachcontrol device comprises a cable assembly configured to reach from therespective door lock to the frame.